Camera



June 1939- o w GITHENS ET AL 2,164,061

. CAMERA Filed July 12, 1935 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 June 27, 1939. ow. GITHENSET AL 2,164,061

CAMERA Filed July 12, 1935 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTORS OTTO w. GITHENSJESSE NORDEN 43 BY EDWARD GMANNERBERG June 27, 1939. o. w. GITHENS :r AL

CAMERA Filed July 12, 1935 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTORS OTTO HEN JESSE 0 5EDEN & MANNERBERG G :ORNEY BY gowmzo c.

Patented June27, 1939 UNITED STATES.

PATENT OFFICE and Edward G. Mannerberg,

asslgnors,

Brooklyn, N. Y.,

by mesne assignments, to Universal Camera Corporation, New York, N. Y.,a corporation of Delaware Application July 12, 1935, Serial No. 30,982

12 Claims.

1111s invention relates to cameras, and more particularly to a foldingcamera of vest pocket An object of this invention is to provide a cameraof the character described, having a bellows light chamber, as well as atime exposure and snap shutter mechanism and which is also provided withmeans for supporting the camera on a flat surface when it is desired totake photographs by time exposure, the camera at the same time being ofextremely compact construction and so designed that the various partsthereof may be easily assembled, thus enabling the camera to bemanufactured at a relatively low cost.

A further object of this invention is to provide a compact camera of thecharacter described, which shall be rugged in construction, easy tooperate, and at the same time be thoroughly practical and eflicient.

Other objects of this invention will in part be obvious and in parthereinafter pointed out.

The invention accordingly consists in the features of construction,combinations of elements, and arrangement of parts which will beexemplifled in the construction hereinafter described, and of which thescope of application will be indicated in the following claims.

In the accompanying drawings, in which is shown one of the variouspossible illustrative embodiments of this invention,

Fig. 1 is a front elevational view of the camera in closed or collapsedposition;

Fig. 2 is a side elevational view of the camera shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a side elevational view of the camera opened and standing upon a flat support, and with the finder in operative position;

Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 2 but showing the opposite side of thecamera;

Fig. 5 is a rear elevational view of the camera shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 6 is a bottom plan view of my improved camera;

Fig. 7 is an enlarged, cross-sectional view of the opened camera;

Fig. 8 is a cross-sectional view taken on line 2-8 of Fig. '1;

Fig. 9 is a cross-sectional view taken on line 9-8 of Fig. '7;

Fig. 10 is a front elevational, detail view of the shutter illustratingthe time exposure;

Fig. 11 is a cross-sectional view taken on line li-ii of Fig. '7;

Fig. 12 is a cross-sectional view taken on line lI-il of Fig. 11;

Fig. 13 is a cross-sectional view taken on line 13- of Fig. 11;

Fig. 14 is a cross-sectional view taken on line l4-l4 of Fig. 13;

Fig. 15 is a cross-sectional view taken on line i5-l5 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 16 is a cross-sectional view taken on line l6-il of Fig. 15;

Fig. 17 is a cross-sectional view taken on line i|-il of Fig. 15;

Fig. 18 is a cross-sectional view taken on line 18-48 of Fig. 17;

Fig. 19 is a cross-sectional view taken on line iO-i! of Fig. 17;

Fig. 20 is an elevational, rear view of the back of the camera with thecover removed;

Fig. 21 is a cross-sectional view taken on line 2i-2l of Fig. 20;

Fig. 22 is a perspective view illustrating the method of assemblingcertain of the parts of the camera; and

Fig. 23 is a perspective view similar to Fig. 22.

Referring now in detail to the drawings, there is disclosed in Figures 1to 8 a camera l0 embodying the. various features of the invention. Thecamera comprises a front-housing ii and a back cover l2, preferably madeof cast metal and so designed as to fit into one another to form acompact camera casing of pleasing appearance. The means provided forlocking housing ii to cover i 2 in assembled position will becomeapparent as the description proceeds. By referring to Figs. 7 and 22 itwill be seen that housing ii is provided with a central, box-likeportion l6 projecting inwardly toward the inner wall of the back coveri2 leaving a space between said cover i2 and said portion i8 sufllcientfor a film F to pass freely therethrough. Projecting portion i6 isprovided with an opening 26 which may be of a size corresponding to thephotograph to be taken. In the drawings we have disclosed said openingto be rectangular in shape, and centrally located. Said box-like portioni6 is adapted to receive within it the camera lens and shutter mechanismmounted at one end of a lazy tong device associated with a metalbellows, and so designed that the aforesaid parts when compressed andfolded are made to fit snugly into said portion it. The outer surface ofthe said lens and shutter mechanism thus is made to maintain thesymmetrical and pleasing outline of the camera, as shown in Figs. 1, 2,4 and 6. A more detailed description of the above parts and how they areassembled will be made as the description proceeds.

The method and means for assembling and its lower end, and on the insidethereof, with a projecting lug 40 (Fig. 23) and at the top there isprovided an upwardly projecting portion 41. It will be noted in Figs. 2,3, 4 and 22 that said portion 41 also extends laterally beyond the innerwall of said cover I2. The reason for this will soon become apparent.Portion 41 is provided with an aperture 48 surrounded by a recessed area48. Into this recessed area 48, such as at 430, there is pivotallymounted a flat plate or locking member 50 of a thickness substantiallyequal to the depth of the depression of area 48. Said member 50 may beprovided with a turned up edge portion 50b to facilitate movement aboutpivot 48.

As shown in Fig. 20 of the drawings, housing II is provided with ashoulder portion 30 of a width equal to the thickness of the walls ofback cover I2 and having a ridge IOI extending upwardly from saidshoulder 30 designed to guide and hold said cover I2 to form the sidesof' the camera casing, as shown in Figs. 2, 4 and 6. A slightly embossedportion t3 may be provided integral with cover I2 for improving theappearance of the camera. Within the ridge IOI there is provided adetent 36 (Fig. 22) adapted to engage the lug 46. At the top of saidhousing II, the ridge IOI is depressed as at 81. The shoulder portion 30is provided at the center of the depressed ridge 81 with a notch 33 ofequal width with aperture 48 and in alignment therewith.

It is seen from the above description that in order to assemble fronthousing II and back cover I2, it is merely necessary to engage lug 46 ofthe cover I2 in detent 36 of housing II and fit said cover I2 overshoulder 30. When this is done it is found that notch 33 is in alignmentto continue aperture 48 and that the recessed area 49 is flush with theshoulder portion 30 at the depressed ridge region 31, due to thedepression 32 formed in the upper rear wall of housing I I, back ofdepressed ridge region 31 (Fig. 23). In order to lock the members inposition it is necessary to turn the locking member 50 to a verticalposition from its dotted line position, as shown in Figs. 1 and 15 tooverlap housing II and cover I2. In order to hold the locking member infixed position there is provided on the underside thereof a. projectionI05, adapted to engage a detent I06 in housing II at a point directlyunderneath said projection, as shown in Fig. 15. The aperture 48 may beutilized as a sight opening for the camera in cooperation with a finderhereinafter to be described. The cover I2 may be provided with anaperture I5 covered with a red transparent material to register with thefilm numbers and to align the same in proper position.

For extending the shutter and lens mechanism from its ineffectiveposition, that is, within the box-like portion I6 of front housing II,to effective position, such, for example, as shown in Fig. '7 of thedrawings, there is employed a lazy tong device 82 (see also Fig. 3) heldin extended position by means of a pair of coil tension springs H6(acting so as to pull arms I05 and I06 of said lazy tong device 82together. Said springs IE6 may be designed to gradually increase indiameter from the outer ends toward the center thereof to better retaintheir resilient qualities under constant use.

Mounted adjacent the unpivoted ends of arms I05 and I06 is a rear frame68. Said frame 68 is provided with turned-in side portions 76 havingslots 20 (see Fig.- 3) adapted to slidably engage pins Ill therein, saidpins being fastened adjacent said arm ends. Frame -68 is provided withrearwardly extending tabs I2 (Fig. 23) adapted to be projected throughcorresponding slots I9b (see Figs. 21 and. 23) in box-like portion I6and folded over as shown in Fig. 20 to retain frame 00 in position.-Recessed areas I adapted to accommodate the folded over portions of tabs12 may be provided in order to maintain the same flush with the surfaceof the part box-like portion I6 that is adjacent the film. It will benoted that frame 68 is provided with an opening 10 corresponding to theopening 26 of housing II.

- Mounted adjacent the unpivoted ends of arms I03 and I04 is a frontframe or plate 83, in a manner similar to the mounting of frame 68 toarms I05 and I06. Frame 83 is provided with turned-in side portions 83having slots adapted to slidably engage pins II4 therein, said pins II4being fastened to and adjacent said arm ends; Frame 83 is in parallelrelation to frame 60. It is seen from the above description that theextent of the outward movement of lazy tong device 82 is limited due tothe size of the slots. 20 and 85.

To reduce to a minimum the friction between the arms I03, I04, I05 andI06 of the lazy tong mechanism 82, said arms are provided with raised oroffset portions adjacent their points of intersection (Fig. 11).Similarly, the ends of arms I05 and I06 cooperating with pins H3 and theends of arms I03 and I04 cooperating with pins II4 are offset to reducethe friction between said arms and the front and rear frames 68 and 83.

Notches I8 and 91, and I9 and 99 are provided in the front and rearframes 68 and 83 to clear the heads of the rivets of the lazy tongdevice when in folded position.

Attached to front plate 83 on the inner 'side 1 thereof is a housing orcasing I20 adapted to receive the camera lens and shutter device asshown in Figs. 7 and 11 of the drawings, and which will later bedescribed in detail. Casing I20 is provided with extending flanges I21adapted to contact inner surface of the plate 83, and to register withapertured ears I28 of said plate 83. Casing I20 may be rigidly fixed toplate 83 for movement therewith by any suitable means, such as rivetsI30. Positioned between the rear frame 68 and casing I20 is a.collapsible bellows 52 adapted to furnish a sealed light path from thelens to the sensitized film. The bellows 52 may be of any suitableconstruction for the purpose, such as shown in the drawings and designedto decrease in cross-sectional area from back to front. The manner inwhich said bellows is attached to frame 68 and casing I20 may bedescribed as follows.

The back portion of the bellows 52 is provided with outwardly foldedflaps 6| adapted to overlie the inner surface of frame 68. The corner ofsaid iii) flaps 6| are cut away to clear the tabs I2. Said flaps 6i areprovided with apertures 62 designed to register with correspondingapertures ii in frame 68. Apertures 62 and II are designed to permitlugs i9a on the inner side of portion I6 to project therethrough toretain said bellows in position and to render it lightproof. To furtherprotect said back end of the bellows against light leakage there isprovided a flanged portion 21 (Fig. 15) surrounding the opening 26 inhousing II. When the back frame 68 carrying the flaps 6i is fitted intohousing II, opening I0 is fitted around said flange 21 which acts so asto fold the flaps I over flange 21 to form a lightproof seal.

The front end of the bellows 02 is provided with inwardly folded flaps03 and attached to a plate 04 by any suitable attaching means, such aspaste. For the purpose of centering said plate 04 with respect to casingI 20, plate 04 is provided with slots 00 adapted to have projectedtherethrough a tab I32 attached to the rear wall of easing I20. For moreefficient assembly, more than one slot 00 designed to receive tab I02 isprovided to obviate the necessity for attaching said plate 04 to thefront end of bellows 02 in any one position. Plate 04 may be attached tocasing I by a bushing 04a having a flange extending through the openingsI3I and 00 and swaged over the inner surface of the plate 04. To permitan. uninterrupted light path from the opened lens to the film, casingI20 and plate 04 are providedwith openings I3I and 00, respectively,said openings being of the same size and in alignment.

Overlying the front surface of the casing I20 and contacting therewithis a front plate 200 having apertures I21a registering with apertures inflanges I21 of casing I20 and riveted thereto by the rivets I30. Plate200 is so designed as to fit neatly into the front open portion ofhousing II, as shown in Fig. 1, and is provided with an aperture 20Iadapted to cooperate with the lens I01 and to hold said lens in position(see Fig. 7).

From the description of the apparatus thus far it is seen that thesprings IIO normally tend to project and maintain the front end of thecam era in outward position, as shown in Fig. 3. When it is desired tofold the camera to an ineffective position, as shown in Figs. 2 and 4,it is merely necessary to press front plate 200 inwardly toward thecamera casing to collapse bellows 02 and lazy tong device 02. Tomaintain the camera in said collapsed position, there is provided anovel catch mechanism which may be described as follows.

The upper end of shutter casing I20 is provided with two rearwardlyextending horizontal cam members I40, as shown in Fig. 11 of thedrawings. The underside of the top folded portion of rear frame 00 isprovided with two headed pins 14. A catch member I adapted to contactsaid underside portion of frame 08 and to slide thereon is provided withslots I44 having one end thereof sufllciently enlarged to permit theheads of pins 14 to pass through and to be slidably engaged therein. Aspring I41, one end of which is fastened to frame 00 at a point 15 theother end being attached to member I at I45, tends to norm-ally maintainsaid member I in the position shown in Fig. 11. Member MI is providedwith cam portions I adapted to cooperate with cams I40. Thus it is seenthat when the front end of the camera is pressed rearwardly to collapseor fold the same, cams I40 are caused to contact cam portions I40 toslide member I in a direction against the action of retaining spring I41a predetermined distance until the hook portions of cams I40 engage. theends of cams I48 to hold the camera in collapsed condition against theaction of springs IIO.

When it is desired to project the front end of the camera for effectiveuse, there is provided an angular extended portion I50 which may beintegral with member I and adapted to extend to the outer surface of thecamera housing II and rest in specially designed recessed area 23 insaid housing (Figs. 1 and 15). Said portion I50 is adapted to be movedlaterally in said recessed area 20. Thus it is seen that when saidportion I00 is moved laterally in the direction of the arrowin Fig. 1,member I will be caused to move in the same direction against the actionof spring I41 and after a predetermined distance of travel of saidmember I, hooked cams I40 will be released from cams I40 to allow thefront portion of the camera to be projected forwardly by the action ofsprings I I0 as hereinbefore described.

Referring particularly to Figs. 7 to 13 of the drawings, there isdisclosed the shutter mechanism housed in casing I20, comprising a plateI00 which may be of cast material, to the front wall of which isattached another plate IOI which may be of brass or any other suitablematerial. The plate I00 has an embossed or raised surface I02 on therear side thereof projecting into shutter casing I20. Said plate isfurther provided with a centrally located lens aperture I04 adapted toregister with apertures I3I and 00, in front end of bellows and plate04, respectively. Above said opening I04, said plate I00 is provided onthe rear surface thereof with a raised circular portion I00 from whichextends a concentric cylindrical portion I00 provided with a pin I01.Said pin I01 has an aperture I00, below which there is provided a raisedcircular portion I10 having a concentric cylindrical projection I1Ihaving a pin I12. The raised surface I02 is provided adjacent the bottomcorners thereof, with spaced rearwardly projecting pins I14 and I10.

The plate I00 is further provided with an arcuate slot I10 registeringwith the inner end of cutaway portion 09 of plate 03 (Fig. 12). PlateI00 is also provided with a depressed area I00 (Fig. 9).

The rear surface of plate I 00 is adapted to contact shoulder I24 ofcasing I20 around the raised surface I02, the upper and lower ends ofsaid plate I00 being adapted to project beyond the upper and lower endsof said shoulder, as shown in Fig. 7 of the drawings.

Plate I 00 is provided on the front surface thereof with a recess Iconcentric with aperture I04 and adapted to house a lens I01. Said plateI00 is further provided on the front surface thereof with a recessedarea I00 and a ridge I00 at the sides and bottqm of said recess. Saidfront surface also has a recess IOI (Fig. 13) communicating with arcuateslot "8- (Fig. 9) and bolt opening I00, and provided with a ridge I 02around a portion of the edge of said recess. Said front surface also hasa vertical groove I extending to the bottom edge of plate I00, the upperend of said groove communicating with a slot I11 and having a top wall I94.

The brass plate IOI is adapted to contact the front surface of plate I00and is received between the raised side edges I98 (Fig. 13). Said plateIOI is provided with a notch 200 at the top thereof corresponding to anotch I00 of plate I00. Said plate IOI may be attached to plate I00 byanysuitable means such asa bolt 20I extending through opening I 00 andengaging an apertured ear 202 on said plate IOI. Said plate IOI isprovided with an opening 205 registering with a portion of the recessIOI and is adapted to receive the lens aperture I 04 of plate I00. Saidplate IN is also provided with an arcuate opening 201 adapted toregister with arcuate opening I18 of plate I00. Said plate IOI also hasan opening 200 receiving the ridge I09 of plate I00. The ridges I02 andI00 are constructed so as to project into openings 00 and 00 of plate 00(Fig. 2) to assure perfect registration of the plates I36, IN and 33.Said plate "I is provided with a .cutaway portion 233 aligned withgroove I93 and with a spring tongue 2I6 projecting into said groove, forthe purpose hereinafter explained.

Means are also provided cooperating with the shutter mechanism wherebythe camera may be operated to take instantaneous or snapshotphotographs'as' well as time exposures. For this purpose there isrotatably mounted on cylindrical projection HI and contacting surfaceI10 a shutter plate 2I5 having an arcuate shutter opening 2I6. Saidplate 2I5 is provided with an extension 2" having an angularlyprojecting notched finger 2". At the outer edge of plate 2I5 there ispositioned a lug 226 disposed adjacent one end of the shutter opening.

Received on the other cylindrical projection 186 and adapted to contactraised surface I65 is a shutter operating member 22I having an arm 222extending through arcuate. slots I18 and 201, said arlm 222 beingprovided with a portion 223 positioned in the cut away portion 89 of theplate 63. Upon oscillating said arm 222, the portion 223 is adapted tocontact edges which limit the oscillatory movement of said am 222. Saidportion 223 is constructed so as to project beyond plate 63, the outerend being corrugated to facilitate a gripping engagement by such meansas a finger to operate the shutter. Said operating member 22I has asecond arm 225 positioned at an angle to the first arm and terminatingadjacent the extension 2" of the shutter plate 2I5 and connected tofinger 218 by resilient means, such as a torsion spring 221.

Said arm 225 is adapted to contact the raised portion IBI of ridge I86which serves as a guide for said arm. As the operating member MI ismoved the shutter plate 2I5 is caused to be oscillated thereby causingthe shutter opening 2I6 to pass the lens opening at each oscillation toexpose the film to the light rays passing through the lens. Pins I14 andI15 are provided as shown in Fig. 9 of the drawings, which serve asstops to limit the angular movement of shutter plate 2 I5. The spring221 insures a positive snap action as the end of arm 225 is made to movefrom one side to the other of the center of oscillation of the shutterplate 2I5.

with the lens aperture, and the oppositely extending ears 232 and 233.The ear 232 is slit vertically, as at 234, the inner edges formed bysaid slit being notched to receive pin I61. Ear 233 is provided with anopening adapted to receive pin I12. The baflle 236 may be fixed toshoulder I66 by the bolt 2I1I which engages ear 232. It will now beunderstood that the shutter plate and operative melmber are held ontheir pivot pins and in their'planes of operation by means of the bafllespring 231). To prevent the baille from bending at its central portion,it is designed to contact the ridge I89. One side of the battle is cutaway, as at 231, to expose the slot I11.

Slidably mounted in groove N3, and received between the plates and I6!is a slider 246 having an offset surface 241 (Fig. 14) extending intoopening 269, and may have stamped or otherwise marked on said surface241 the words Time and Snap. The tongue 216 is adapted to press theslider 246 against plate I69 to be retained in any position to which itmay be moved. Said slider 246 is provided with a finger 242 adapted toextend through slot I11. A forwardly projecting horizontal ledge 241 isalso provided at the bottom end of said slider 24.. When the slider ismoved in an upward direction, the finger 242 will not be' inthe path oflug 226 of the shutter plate 2I5 and therefore the shutter will operatefor the taking of snapshot exposures. When the slider 240 is moveddownwardly the finger 243 will come into the path of the lug 226. Shouldthe operating member then be lmoved, the shutter will be permitted torotate onlyhalf the usual angle in order for the shutter opening 2I6 toregister with the lens openin'g. Movement of the operating member in theopposite direction will cause the shutter plate to move back to itsclosing position. It is seen that when the slider 24!! is moved to the"time position, the shutterplate 2I5 will always be stopped in openposition. upon the oscillation of the operating mechanism therefor.Plate I6I is provided with a notch 2II aligned with the cut away portion209 and adapted to register with the notch I00 of plate 63.

There is provided a finder 256 adapted to cooperate with the sightopening 48 to facilitate the proper framing of the photograph to betaken.

Said finder 250 is mounted on the shutter mechanism and may be made of asingle piece of wire U-shape in design, as shown in Fig. 13, and havingits extending parallel arms 252 provided at the ends thereof withinwardly turned spurs 253. The arms 252 of the finder are adapted to beslidably received in grooves I96 of plate I66, said grooves beingprovided with internal shoulders I91 designed to cooperate with spurs253 to limit the upward movement of said arms 252. Plate I6I whenfastened to plate I60 serves to maintain arms 252 in grooves I96. Toraise the finder 250 to efiective position, as shown in Figs. 3 and 13,the tip of ones finger may be inserted in notches I85 and 206 and undertop portion of said finder 256 and pull upwardly. The spurs 253 willcontact the stops I91 to limit upward movement of the finder.

By referring to Figs. 1 to 5 of the drawings, it is readily seen how thesight opening 49 may be used in cooperation with the finder 256 to sightand frame the photograph.

The front plate 260 is provided with a window opening 262 through whicheither the word "Time or Snap may be seen, depending upon the positionof the slider 240. The front plate 260 is also provided with a notch 263at the bottom edge thereof adapted to register with notches I06 and 2 inthe plates 83 and I61 to permit the engaging of said slider to move thesame.

When it is desired to put the camera in inoperative or closed position,as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the housing II is provided with notches 260.or 26b adapted to receive the outer end of operating lever 223. Eitherone of the two notches 26a or 261) may be utilized, depending uponwhether the lever 223 is up or down. Thus it is seen that by thisconstruction the lever 223 cannot be operated when the camera is incollapsed position. The bottom end of the slider 246 is adapted to fitinto the groove IBa at the front of housing ii.

As will be noted from the drawings, and more particularly, Figs. 7, 22and 23, the design of the camera is such that when the cover I2 isassembled with the housing II there are formed above and below thebox-like portion I6, film spool chambers 51 and 5Ia, adapted to housefilm spools 52 which may be similar to the spools shown in our copendingapplication Ser. No. 659,- 912, filed March 7, 1933 for Photographiccamera. Said spools may comprise a spindle having circular flanges atthe endsyone of which is grooved to receive a key 33b of winder 33. Thefilm from the spool in the er chamber Ola is adapted to unwind and passupwardly between the rear wall of the box-like portion I3 and the innerwall of the cover I2 and to wind up on the spool 32 in the upper chamberSI. The spool 52 in the upper chamber SIa. is adapted to be receivedbetween the walls b and c. The circular flanges of the spools contactportions of the spool chambers for rotatably supporting said spools. Theknob 39a of the winding element is adapted to be received in the recessformed by the depressed portions of the housing. II and cover I2 so asnot to project beyond the side of the camera casing to prevent catchingon the pocket when inserting or removing the camera, as well as topreserve the pleasing contours of the camera.

The spool winder comprises a stem extending through the aperture in car38, a knob or handle 33a fixed to said stem and provided with an annularflange, and a key 39b (Fig. 19) fixed to the inner end of the stem andadapted to engage film spool 52. There is provided a pair of outwardlyextending lugs lid supporting a spring lie, one end of which is adaptedto engage the ratchet teeth I5! on the inner surface of the knob flange33a to permit rotation of said knob 33a in one direction only.

There is provided within the half chambers above and below the box-likeportion I6, rear- 3 wardly extending integrally cast pins a on which aremounted strip springs lIb adapted to engage the film on the spools 52.The pins 4Ia are designed to extend through suitable openings in saidsprings, and the outer ends thereof -are offset for fastening the innerends of said springs to the front wall of housing II.

When taking time exposure photographs, it is desirable that the camerabe supported on some stationary support. For this purpose there isprovided a supporting member I36 (Fig. 8) pivotally mounted to the rearwallof the casing I20,-

at I360. As shown in Figs. 7 and 8, said member I36 is in effectiveposition to support the camera.

When it is desired to fold or collapse the camera, member I36 is rotatedon pivot I36 to assume the dotted line position shown in the drawingsand adapted to fold into the box-like portion IS without interferingwith said folding action. A pair of stops I34 and I35 are provided inthe casing I20 to limit the movement of the member I38 to prevent thecutting of the bellows 52.

-It will thus be seen that there is provided a device in which theseveral objects of this invention are achieved, and which is welladapted to meet the conditions of practical use.

As various possible embodiments might be made of the above invention,and as various changes might be made in the embodiments above set forth,it is to be understood that all matter herein set forth pr shown in theaccompanying drawings is to be interpreted as illustrative and not in alimiting sense.

Having thus described our invention, we claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent:

1. A camera comprising a casing having a separate front portion and aseparate back portion, said front portion having an integral rearwardlyextending box structure projecting into said back portion, means fordetachably holding said front and back portions in assembledrelationship, a

bellows, a frame fixing the rear end of said belbox structure projectinginto said back portion,

means for detachably holding said front and back portions in assembledrelationship, a bellows, a frame fixing the rear end of said bellows tosaid box structure, shutter mechanism attached to the front of saidbellows, lazy tongs interconnecting said frame with said shuttermechanism, spring means to project said shutter mechanism, said shuttermechanism being movable lnto said casing to collapse said bellows, andreleasable means for. retaining said bellows in collapsed condition.

3. A camera comprising a casing having a front portion and a rearportion interfitted therewith, said front portion having a recessed boxprovided with a rear wall having an opening and a plurality of slots, abellows having at the rear thereof outwardly extending flaps contactingsaid rear wall, a rear frame having a wall pressing said flaps againstsaid rear wall and tabs extending through said slots and bent over intoengagement with said rear wall, said bellows having at the front thereofinwardly extending fiaps adhered to a plate, a front frame, a housingattached to said front frame, said plate being attached to said housing,shutter mechanism between said front frame and housing, and lazy tongsinterconnecting said front and rear frames. 4. A camera comprising acasing having a front portion and a rear portion interfitted therewith,said front portion having a recessed box provided with a rear wallhaving an opening and a plurality of slots, a bellows having at the rearthereof outwardly extending flaps contacting said'rear wall, a rearframe having a wall pressing said fiaps against said rear wall and tabsextending through said slots and bent over into engagement-with saidrear wall, said bellows having at the front thereof inwardly extendingflaps ad-i.

hered to a plate, a'front frame, a housing at-FI tached to said frontframe, said pla f-bging Eli-3 tached to said housing, shutter mec between said front frame and housing lazy' tongs interconnecting saidfront and rear frames, hook means on said housing, and a spring catch onsaid frame, said plate being attached to the rear of said housing, apair of superimposed contacting plates between said housing and frame,and a shutter and operating lever therefor on one of said pair ofplates.

6. A camera comprising a casing having a pair of interfitted portions,one of .said portions being provided with a projecting area beyond theother of said portions, and means for attaching said portions togethercomprising interengaging pin and socket means on said portions at oneend of the casing at a point opposed to said projecting area, and amember pivotally mounted at one end thereof on said projecting area,said member having the free end thereof manually movable into engagementwith the other of said portions.

-7. A folding camera comprising a casing having a wall provided with anopening, a bellows having a rear end contacting the portions of saidwall adjacent said opening, a rear frame attaching the rear end of saidbellows to said wall, said frame having a pair of parallel wallsprovided with slots, a front frame attached to the front end of saidbellows, and having a pair of parallel walls aligned with the first pairof parallel walls, and formed with slots, lazy tongs interconnectingsaid frames and including links having portions freely movable in saidslots, and spring means tending to normally urge said lazy tongs toextended position. a

8. A folding camera comprising a casing having a wall provided with anopening, a bellows having a rear end contacting the portions of saidwall adjacent said opening, a rear frame attaching the rear end of saidbellows to said wall, said frame having a pair of parallel wallsprovided with slots, a front frame attached to the front end of saidbellows, and having a pair of parallel walls aligned with the first pairof parallel walls, and provided with slots, lazy tongs interconnectingsaid frames and including links having portions received in said slots,and spring means to project said lazy tongs, said spring means includinga coil tension spring having an intermediate portion of increaseddiameter.

9. In a folding camera, a casing having a wall provided with an opening,and a plurality of lugs adjacent said opening, a bellows havingoutwardly extending flaps contacting portions of said wall adjacent saidopening, and having openings adapted to receive said lugs, a framehaving a portion receiving said bellows, holding said flaps against saidwall, and having openings also adapted to receive said lugs, and meansfor attaching said frame to said wall.

10. A folding camera comprising a casing, a bellows'attached at the rearto said casing, shutter mechanism attached to the front of said bellows,an operating lever forming part of said mechanism adapted to oscillateto two angular positions and having a projecting handle, said shuttermechanism being adapted to be received 5 in said casing upon collapsingsaid bellows, and said casing having a pair of notches, one to receivesaid handle when said lever is in one angular position, and one toreceive said handle when said lever is at its other angular position.

11. A folding camera comprising a casing having having a wall providedwith-an opening, a bellows having a rear end contacting the portions ofsaid wall adjacent said opening, a rear frame attaching the rear end ofsaid bellows to said 15 wall, said frame having a pair of parallel wallsprovided with slots, a front frame attached to the front end of saidbellows, and having a pair of parallel walls aligned with the first pairof par-' allel walls, and formed with slots, lazy tongs interconnectingsaid frames and including links having portions freely movable in saidslots, and springs interconnecting each pair of the two pairs of linkswhich are disposed adjacent one of said frames.

12. A camera casing comprising a rear casing part and a front casingpart having a box-like portion thereof extending within said rear casingpart, a bellows attached at the rear end thereof to said front casingextending portion, 30

